In the meantime, I figured a great place to start posting again would be to pick my keyword for the year. For those keeping score at home, this is keyword #4.

Why Keywords?

I call them keywords because a keyword is connected to other words and other ideas. When you search using a keyword, you get a range of results that are all connected to the keyword. When I pick my word for the year, I begin to notice occurrences and outcomes connected to my word.

I don’t think the keyword creates these outcomes; for me, keywords work kind of like my vision board. I work to be thoughtful and conscientious when I am picking my word, but after that … I don’t really do anything with it. It is just there, running in the background, helping draw my attention and point me in the right directions.

Picking a Keyword

I usually “try on” a number of words before I find the right one for the year. It is like finding something on the rack in the store and then going to the dressing room to see if it fits.

Oh. That word’s too much. That one’s too small. That word would look better on someone else.

And, of course, sometimes I have to separate the word I want from the word I need.

The year after I graduated from music school, I really (REALLY) wanted to pick WEALTH as my word. But the more I thought about it, the more I could sense that the WEALTH was too much. (Not always — to be clear, I am not asking wealth to stay way.)

But, picking wealth that year would have been a set up. I was in too much transition to create wealth. Plus, focusing on wealth would have caused me to forgo some of the exploring I needed to do in order to find my voice as an artist. I chose the DISCIPLINE as my keyword that year to help me build the routines and systems I would need to develop my music career.

My keyword for 2011 was EMBODY. I started the year on the other side of the world at a loss as to how to integrate what I was learning about vocal improvisation (and myself! *smile*) with “the rest” of my music career. I knew I needed to figure out how to bring improv into my performances (and my teaching!) in order to take my next steps.

I also had to get comfortable with the whole idea of being an artist. Believe you me, imagining and then bringing into being things no one else sees as your vocation takes some getting used to. (I also suspect it is a step on the path to wealth. *grin*)

…

My keyword for 2012 is CREATE.

A tiny part of me was a little disappointed that it wasn’t a flashier or more unique word, but (as my friend M says) when I know, I know.

This coming year is a time to create things. I am not sure exactly what I will end up inventing — performances, CDs, singing groups, teaching aids, etc. — but it feels like the year for figuring it out.

Finding Your Own Keyword

Maybe you knew as soon as you started reading this post, what your keyword for 2012 would be. Maybe you still have no idea. (Maybe you think keywords, 2012 and me are all big dumby-heads. *smile*)

I tend to choose verbs for my keywords. (That’s just my personality: If I’m going to spend a year with a word, I guess I think it should do something. *grin*)

You can pick a noun, adjective, adverb, gerund … whatever. YOU are the person who knows where you next need to walk and what word should keep you company.

If you are struggling to pick just one word, try thinking about which word you want to try next. Picking a single word lets you experience the focus a single concept can bring. If it ends up being wrong, (wrong, wrong!), I promise you can change it. (And, hey, if you need two words — the keyword police aren’t going to show up at your door.)

One last idea.

If you just can’t find the right word, create one. (Hey, I invent words — songtaneous, singingly — all the time! *grin*)

My sister invented the word “attackle” last year. As in: “When I get home, I will attackle that.”

Maybe you want ATTACKLE 2012. Or IMPROVERATE it. Or GLIM-SHIMMER-SHINE in it.

It’s not the word really. It is the time spent cogitating on your word that creates traction for the new year.

…

To help get your wheels turning, I have included some ideas below.

clarity, unpack, glean, do, share, give, healing, explore, vibrant, nurture, flow, decide, commit, simplify, shine, balance, embody, expand, change, generosity, prosperity, abundance, make, mastery, release, flourish, choose, allow, savor, enjoy, enliven, seeds, grow …

In order to finish up the newsletter, I had to finish the promo page for the workshop I’ll be teaching next month (Dec 4 from 1:00 to 5:00pm) and then between creating the graphics and the different versions of the email and testing them … it’s 2:45 am.

And I have a blog post to write. *tired smile*

…

And I leave on Tuesday for another trip north to Duluth. I am really excited to work again with Sara Thomsen and her choir, not to mention the students at Univ of MN Duluth. (And, I just found out Regina Laroche who I performed with in last weekend’s concert will be joining us!)

I feel honored and excited (and, yes, a teeny bit exhausted) to have so many interesting and soul-feeding projects happening and in the works, but also a little distressed because all these cool projects mean I have had to go looking for more time.

More time to rehearse, more time to teach, more time to plan …

Okay, I’ll just come out and say it.

I have to take a blog sabbatical. Til the end of the year.

…

I have been conflicted because I take my commitment to you and the honor of your readership VERY seriously, but this latest little admin marathon has tipped the scales. (Hey, it’s not you, it’s me. *grin*)

I am consoling myself with the thought that the holiday season is nearly upon us (my guitarist and I started rehearsing our holiday music last week) and you will hardly notice that I’m not emailing you on Mondays and Fridays. (*nervous giggle*)

I mean, we are all going to be quite busy for the rest of November and through December. (Right?) I have concerts, workshops and Songtaneous sessions to do and big singing/teaching/performing stuff to work out for next year. (And you will have concerts, workshops and Songtaneous sessions to attend. *snicker*)

Don’t worry, the blog isn’t going anywhere. You can come peruse the archives any time you need a Songtaneous fix. And if you are really missing me, you can come to show, look for me on facebook or shoot me an email. (Besides, you’ll hear from me in December when I send out the Dec issue of singingly. Go here to sign up if you aren’t already on the list. *smile*)

Take care, sing and I will see you here in the new year.

“Forget about enlightenment, sit down wherever you are and listen to the wind singing in your veins.”
– John Welwood

“Of all the things that exist, we breathe and wake and turn it into song.”
– Mark Nepo

I so enjoyed working with my fellow performers and meeting artist Janet McKenzie. We met Friday afternoon for our dress rehearsal and then convened Saturday afternoon a talk with the artist.

Janet is soft-spoken, quietly funny and passionate about her art. She explained that her work changed in the mid-90s when her nephew (then a little boy of color) couldn’t see himself in her artwork. And so her work opened.

That opening put her on the path to including people of color and, in particular, women of color in her paintings. She feels it is the work she was put here to do. (Having work you are called to do is an idea I can relate to. *smile*)

During the afternoon she talked about her work, her journey with her painting “Jesus of the People” and answered questions. Mary Lou, Regina and I also presented a preview of the evening’s music and dance.

…

In the evening, we gathered at Peace Church to present this eclectic event of offerings inspired by her work. We sang, dance and, important to me, told stories.

A big part of my improvisation journey over the past year has been discovering stories in the music.

I love this story that I “found” during this weekend’s concert. [Oops! You\'ll have to visit songtaneous.com/blog to listen.]

Here is the image that was projected during the story.

© Janet McKenzie Study #1

“The right to life and to exist;
the right to continue vital cycles and processes
free from human alteration;
the right to pure water and clean air;
the right to balance;
the right not to be polluted;
and the right to not have cellular structure modified
or genetically altered.”